Suction sheet feeder



July 29, 1969 1.. MESTRE SUCTION SHEET FEEDER Filed July 12, 1967 INVENTOR LUIS MESTRE 77 .s

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY f y/W741 AT TOR N EY.

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July 29, 1969 MESTRE 3,458,042

SUCTION SHEET FEEDER Filed July 12, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR LUIS MESTRE Y 7%.wmamw ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,458,042 SUCTION SHEET FEEDER Luis Mestre, Miami, Fla. (305 E. 46th St, New York, NY. 10017) Filed July 12, 1967, Ser. No. 652,814 lint. Cl. E6511 /08 US. Cl. 209-88 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A suction sheet feeder is disclosed for feeding sheets from a pile of sheets one at a time and delivering the same to a transfer means. The feeder includes a pivoted sucker frame carrying the suckers at a distance from the pivot to longitudinally reach the transfer means by the pivotal movement. The suckers are given lateral movement to and from the sheet table preferably by a first pivotal frame. The sucker means therefore has compound movement for gripping and initially withdrawing a sheet from a pile of sheets and forwarding the sheet relatively longitudinally by pivotal movement of the sucker means. The sucker means is given compound movement by cam means.

The invention relates to a suction sheet feeder for feeding sheets from a pile of sheets one at a time and delivering the same to a transfer means which in turn feeds each sheet one at a time to some other machine or device such as a printing press sorter and the like. This is accomplished by mounting means preferably a first pivotal frame and a pivotal sucker frame carried by a mounting frame or means to give compound movement to sucker means carried by the sucker frame for gripping and initially withdrawing a sheet from a pile of sheets. The feeder provides a simple, compact and inexpensive construction for producing the compound motion of the sucker means by cam means adjacent to the two frames. The sucker means is moved laterally with respect to the sheets into contact with a sheet which is then gripped by the sucker means and the sucker means and sheet is first moved laterally away from the table and thereafter relatively longitudinally from the pile to deliver the leading edge of the sheet to sheet transfer means which completes the withdrawal of the sheet from the pile after which the sucker means returns longitudinally to initial position in lateral alignment with the leading edge portion of the pile of sheets ready for the next withdrawal and feeding of a sheet. The construction also provides amongst other things, a simple construction for operating the suction valve controlling the suction at the suckers by pivoting of the sucker frame means and particularly by connecting means for pivoting the sucker frame. The sheet feeder is shown particularly as a bottom feeder which removes the bottom sheet from a pile of sheets.

It is an object of the invention to construct a suction sheet feeder which is particularly simple and yet effective in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to construct a suction sheet feeder having a sucker frame which is pivoted to give longitudinal movement to the suckers carried thereby and to move its pivot and the sucker frame laterally to initially withdraw a sheet from a sheet pile with adjacent cam means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suction sheet feeder as above in which the lateral movement of the sucker frame is secured by pivotally mounting the same on a first pivotal frame at a point spaced from the pivot for the first frame and extending angularly therefrom to provide a compound movement for the sucker means under the control of two cams carried on one shaft 3,458,042 Patented July 29, 1969 which shaft is located in the angle between the first pivotal frame and the sucker frame.

Another object is as above and to locate the suction control valve adjacent to the sucker frame means using the movement of this structure to actuate the suction valve connected with the sucker means. This arrangement also provides a short suction connection between the valve and the sucker means.

Another object is to use a sheet transfer means which carries a gaging roll which triggers the rejection of sheets in the event that the sucker means inadvertently withdraws two or more sheets from the pile which are fed to the transfer means and provides a rejection gate at the end of the transfer means.

Again, a simple construction is provided to halt the feeding of sheets.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a section of the sheet feeder taken on line 11 of the FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the sheet feeder with a part of the table removed;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the main frame of the feeder showing a lock-out means for the sucker means;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of an operating connection to the sucker frame with the edge of the sheet entering the feed rollers;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the Operating connection for the sucker frame taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view of a sucker line valve;

FIG. 7 shows the pivotal frame cam and the sucker frame cam; and

FIG. 8 is a section through the suction valve.

The sheet feeder includes a main frame having a table 10 on which a pile of sheets are placed to be fed one at a time. The table includes a pair of guides or side plates 11 which are suitably adjusted laterally to accommodate for the width of the sheets. Some forward tilt in the table aids in the removal of the bottom sheet from the pile of sheets. For a bottom feeder the leading edge of the table is spaced rearwardly from the end or sheet aligning plate 12 located forwardly of the table so that a portion of the leading edge of the first sheet is exposed from the bottom to enable the sucker means to grip the first sheet. Strippers 13 are provided shown as carried by the plate '12 to engage the first sheet at the leading edge which aids in preventing the sucker means from removing more than one sheet from the pile. Blowers or jets are also shown to aid separation of the first sheet from the second sheet in the pile.

For a bottom feeder, the sheet feeding means is located underneath the table. Mounting means is provided to mount the suckers for movement laterally of the table. The mounting means prefer-ably is a first pivotal frame formed by a pair of spaced levers 14 suitably connected together. The frame is pivotally mounted, such as by the levers 14 being secured to a first pivot means 15 to form a part of the first frame, which pivot means is then pivotally mounted on the main frame. The first pivotal frame could just as Well be pivoted on the means if desired. This first pivotal frame carries a cam follower, shown as a roller 16, mounted on a pin 17 on each lever 14 and located between the pivot means 15 and the end of the lever.

A sucker frame is pivotally mounted on the mounting means or the first frame. This sucker frame is shown as comprising spaced levers 20 secured to a second pivot means 21 which is pivotally mounted on the first pivotal frame at a point spaced from the first pivot means 15 and parallel therewith. This sucker frame carries sucker means comprising a plurality of suckers, four being particularly shown, spaced from the sucker frame pivot means or 21. There is one additional lever 20 for each sucker 22 to which the sucker is secured in any suitable manner. This sucker frame carries a pivoting roll 19 carried by one lever 20 spaced from the sucker frame pivot means 21. The sucker frame extends roughly at right angles to the first pivoted frame.

A connection forming part of the sucker frame means is provided to pivot the sucker frame to move the suckers longitudinally from adjacent the table towards a pair of feed rolls and project the edge of the sheet therebetween. This connection accommodates for the bodily lateral movement of the sucker frame. The connection includes a connecting lever 23 pivotally mounted on a pivot 24 carried by the main frame. This lever has an elongated contact surface, shown as a flange 25, FIG. 5, spaced from the pivot which surface or flange engages the pivot roll 19 and allows the latter to roll along the flange during the lateral bodily movement of the sucker frame. The connecting lever carries a cam follower or roll 26 which is rotatable on a pin 26a.

Operating means are provided to move the sucker frame mounting means laterally and pivot the sucker frame or to pivot the two pivotal frames including cam means to move the mounting means and the sucker frame in timed sequence. This cam means includes a cam shaft 27 rotatably carried on the main frame on which shaft is mounted preferably a pair of first earns 28 each of which engages a cam follower 16 on the first pivotal frame to move the same laterally or to pivot the frame on the first pivot means and move the sucker frame laterally towards and away from the table or particularly the first sheet of the pile of sheets. A second cam means shown as a cam 29 is mounted on the cam shaft 27 and engages the cam follower 26 to pivot the connecting lever 23 and thereby pivot the sucker frame on its pivot means 21 through the flange and pivot roll 19 to move the suckers longitudinally to transfer each sheet to feed rolls as will appear. A spring 30 is connected between a pin 31 on the main frame and a pin 32 on the first pivotal frame to maintain each cam follower 16 in contact with its cam 28. A spring 33 extends between the pin 31 and the sucker frame to maintain the latter in approximately right angular relation to the first pivotal frame and also to keep the roll 19 in contact with the flange 25 to keep cam follower 26 in contact with its cam 29. A single spring means pivots the sucker frame into contact with the connecting lever and the latter into contact with its cam.

A valve 36 is mounted on the main frame and con nected by a conduit 37 to a suitable source of suction (not shown). The valve is connected with the sucker means through a hose or conduit 38, a pipe 39 extending crosswise with respect to the main frame and having spaced connecting nipples 40, one for each sucker. Each nipple receives a flexible hose or conduit 41 connected with its respective sucker. Suitable means are provided to operate the valve to cut off the suction at the suckers at the time the sucker means has delivered a sheet to sheet transfer means. The valve restores the suction again to the suckers before another sheet is contacted and gripped. This valve may be operated in several different ways at the proper time, however, the construction is simplified by having the sucker frame means, or particularly its connecting lever 23 for pivoting the sucker frame, to operate this valve. A convenient way to connect the valve with the connecting lever for the sucker frame is that shown being an arm 44 which is an extension of the connecting lever 23-and having a valve roller 45 carried thereby which is rotatably mounted on a pin 46. The valve roller is in a position to engage a valve operating lever 47, pivotally mounted on the valve housing on a pivot 48, to actuate the valve to its suction cut-off position. The valve roller is initially spaced from the valve operating lever so that it is actuated at or shortly before the suckers project the edge of the sheet to the sheet transfer means. Any type of valve may be used which cuts off the suction at the suckers. A simple vent valve is preferred, shown in FIG. 8, which will be described later.

In feeding a sheet from a pile of sheets to the sheet transfer means, the cam 28 turns to a low land 2811 (FIG. 7) carried thereby in contact with the cam follower 16 so that the first pivotal frame 14 is moved laterally by spring 30 towards the table and the leading edge of the first sheet in the pile. When the first sheet has been contacted by the sucker means, it is gripped thereby after which the cam 28 turns to an intermediate land 28!; but of fair height in contact with the follower 16 so that the first pivotal frame 14 pivots laterally substantially away from the table and the second pivotal frame and the suckers move bodily therewith laterally or away from the table to pull the leading edge of the sheet from the strippers 13. During this movement, a low land 2911 of the cam 29 is contacting follower 26. The cam 29 turns with the cam 28 and a high land 2912 of cam 29 engages the follower 26 to move the connecting lever 23 and the sucker frame longitudinally, or to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, the suckers 22 moving to the right therewith until the leading edge of the sheet is engaged by the sheet transfer means whereupon the cam follower 16 rides upon a high land 28c of cam 28 so that the suckers move slightly laterally away from the sheet.

At or shortly before the moment when the edge of the sheet is inserted into the feed rolls, the roller 45 engages the valve operating lever 47 to vent conduit 38 and remove suction from the suckers whereupon the suckers release the sheet and the transfer means takes over the withdrawal of the sheet from the pile and the continued feeding or forwarding of the sheet. When the leading edge of the sheet has been projected between the feed rolls 52, 53, the sucker means is moved downwardly by the high land 280 of the cam 28 pressing the first frame, the sucker frame and the sucker means laterally or downwardly to aid in releasing the sheet from the suckers. The taking of the sheet by the feed rolls probably assists also in stripping the sheet from the suckers. Thereafter the low land on the cam 29 turns to engage follower 26 and spring 33 moves the sucker frame to the left (FIG. 1) to its initial position under the pile of sheets ready for its lateral movement towards the table and the pile of sheets to pick up and feed a second sheet.

The movement of the connecting lever 23 to the right, FIG. 1, and its arm or extension 44 to the left restores the valve to its initial position with the vent 87 closed to reestablish suction at the suckers so that they are ready to grip a second sheet when they are moved into contact with the next first sheet in the pile of sheets or upwardly for a bottom feeder. It will be observed therefore, that the movement of the sucker means is initially laterally or particularly vertically into contact with the first, or bottom, sheet and then downwardly to withdraw the sheet from the strippers 13, then longitudinally forwardly to present the leading edge of the sheet to the feed rolls of the transfer means after which the sucker means is moved downwardly slightly, then longitudinally to the left or rearwardly to its initial position. There is some overlapping of the lateral and longitudinal movements of the suckers as indicated by the overlapping of the curvatures of the cam peripheries or surfaces.

The sheet transfer means may take several forms, that shown including a base plate 51 secured to the main frame 9. At the rear end of the transfer means adjacent to the suckers there is provided a pair of first feed rolls 52 and 53 which have their peripheries in contact so that when the sucker means projects the leading edge of each sheet therebetween, these feed rolls complete the withdrawal of the sheet from the pile. Second feed rolls 55 and 56 are spaced from the first to continue the feeding of each sheet to the end of the sheet transfer means and to the next machine such as a printing press, a collator, or the like.

Reject means are providedto reject or bypass two or more sheets which may be fedat the same time oran unduly heavy sheet, under the control of gaging means located between the first and second feed rolls and mounted on cross bar 64, which gaging means includes a gagingroll 54 and a gaging switch 57. Movement of thegaging roll beyond a preset position closes the switch and triggers the reject means. The reject means includes a reject gate 58 which is pivotally mounted on the main frame on a pivot 59 located immediately forward of the second feed rolls. The gate has two positions so that in one or closed position the sheet passes thereover and in its second or open position it obstructs the forward path of a sheet and directs the sheet downwardly to any suitable receptable. Reject operating means are provided to pivot the reject gate into the path of a rejected sheet or sheets under the controlof the gaging switch. Closing of the gaging switch energizes a solenoid 60 which is connected to the reject gage by a link; 61 which link is connected with the reject gate through a pin 62. Actuation of the solenoid pivots the reject gate 58 into the forward path of the sheet and upon deenergizing of the solenoid a return spring 63 pivots the reject gate into initial horizontal position so that the next sheet passes thereover unless a second rejection occurs. The gaging roll may be adjusted by a screw 65.

The sheet feeder is provided with a counter 67 which counts the number of sheets passing over the reject gate 58. The counter shown is an electric counter which is operated by a switch 69 having a finger 70 in the path of the sheet as they pass over the reject gate to close the switch and shift the counter one position for each sheet in known manner. Such counters are well known. Associated with such counters is a counter switch 68, diagrarnatically shown in FIG. 3, which keeps a circuit closed until the last of the selected number of sheets has passed the finger whereupon the circuit opens. Counters so equipped are also well known. The counter switch controls the feeding of the sheets by being connected with and maintaining a blocking solenoid 71 energizing and so long as it is energized a blocking lever 72 is pivoted on its pivot 73 away from blocking position. When the desired number of sheets have passed the finger or been counted, the counter switch 68 open to deenergize the solenoid and the spring 74 pulls the blocking lever into contact with the first pivotal frame means and holds the same in a retracted position. It is convenient, to provide a locking lever 75 which is secured to the pivot for the first frame means and forms a part thereof which locking lever is located to be engaged by the blocking lever 72 when the last of the number of sheets desired has engaged and pivoted the counting finger. This blocking lever holds the first frame away from the table and hence holds the sucker frame and the sucker means spaced from the table and a sheet in the supply pile so that a sheet is not fed so long as the blocking lever engages the first frame or the locking lever.

If, the sheets are narrower than the width of the four suckers, then it is necessary to disconnect the suction from the two outer suckers so that suction pressure is not lost. This can be accomplished in several ways such as by turning a simple selective valve 78, FIG. 6, closing the passage 79 between the nipple 40 and the suction pipe 39. The suction pressure is maintained at about 15 pounds per square inch which may be adjusted by a bleed valve 77.

It is desirable that the strippers 13 be adjustable as to the distance they project beyond the edge of the sheet aligning plate 12. Usually for a heavier sheet, they project a lesser amount than for a lighter or thinner sheet.

A simple adjustment is provided by having the strippers resilient so that they spring inwardly from the plane or edge of the plate and are projected outwardly from the edge such as by an angularly directed adjusting screw 80 which is threaded into a bracket 81. The end of the screw engages the stripper to project it outwardly and the resiliency of the stripper moves it inwardly when the screw is backed off.

FIG. 8 is a section through the valve 36 having an inlet passage to which conduit 37 is connected, an outlet passage 86, connected with conduit 88 and a vent 87 which is closed by a valve washer 88 which is carried by the valve operating lever 47. The vent opening 87 is closed by the action of a spring 89 which is attached to the lever 47. It will be observed therefore, that in this valve the suction pressure to the suckers is not cut off by the valve but the effect of the suction at the sucker is lost by opening the vent 87 by unseating the washer 88 when the sheet is to be released.

Suitable drive means is provided to rotate the feed rolls in pulleys 93 and belt 94, pulleys 95 and belt 96, and pulleys 97 and belt 98. The cam shaft 27 is driven from the shaft for feed roll 52 by suitable gears.

This invention is presented to fill a need for improvements in a Suction Sheet Feeder. It is understood that various modifications in structure, as well as changes in mode of operation, assembly, and manner of use, may and often do occur to those skilled in the art, especially after benefitting from the teachings of an invention. This disclosure illustrates the preferred means of embodying the invention in useful form.

I claim:

1. A suction sheet feeder to feed sheets one at a time from a pile of sheets comprising a main frame, a table for a pile of sheets carried by the main frame, leading edge aligning means for the pile of sheets, stripper means positioned to engage the leading edge of the first sheet, sheet transporting means including at least first feed rolls means located adjacent to the strippers, sucker frame means including a sucker frame pivotally mounted on a sucker frame pivot means, the sucker frame extending approximately at right angles to the table and adjacent to an end thereof, sucker means carried by the sucker frame including one or more suckers spaced from each other and spaced from the sucker pivot means far enough to project the leading edge of the sheet to the first feed roll means and having an axis, the axis of each sucker being in, or roughly adjacent to, a plane passing through the axis of the sucker frame pivot means, each sucker being adjacent to the table and the first sheet of a pile of sheets carried thereby; sucker frame mounting means carried by the main frame and mounting the sucker frame and its sucker means for lateral movement towards and away from the table, means operatively connected with the sucker frame mounting means to move the sucker frame and the sucker means laterally towards and away from the pile of sheets to withdraw a first sheet from the strippers and to pivot the sucker frame to move the sucker means longitudinally towards and away from the feed rolls including a cam shaft rotatably mounted on the main frame and located adjacent to the sucker frame and the sucker frame mounting means, a first cam means carried by the cam shaft and engaging the sucker frame mounting means to move the same and the sucker frame and sucker means laterally towards and away from the table to remove the leading edge of a sheet from the stripper means, and a second cam means carried by the cam shaft and operatively connected with the sucker frame to pivot the same and move the sucker means longitudinally to and from the table and the feed roll means; a suction valve having tubular connections with the sucker means to control the suction thereto, and valve operating means to close and open the valve in timed sequence with the movement of the sucker means to release the suction at the suckers and on the sheet at the feed roll means.

2. A sheet feeder as in claim 1 in which the sucker frame mounting means is a first pivotal frame pivotally mounted on a first pivot means carried by the main frame and the sucker frame pivot means is carried by the first pivotal frame spaced from the first pivot means.

3. A suction sheet feeder as in claim 1 in which the operating connection between the sucker frame and the second cam means includes a connecting lever pivoted to the main frame adjacent to the second pivot means and having an elongated contact surface engaging the sucker frame at a point spaced from the sucker frame pivot means, the second cam engaging the connecting lever to pivot the same and the sucker frame to move the sucker means longitudinally.

4. A suction sheet feeder as in claim 3 in which the suction frame mounting means is a first pivotal frame pivotally mounted on a first pivot means carried by the main frame and the sucker frame pivot means is carried by the first pivotal frame spaced from the first pivot means.

5. A suction sheet feeder as in claim 1 in which the suction valve is located adjacent to the sucker frame means and operated thereby when the suckers are adjacent to the sheet transporting means.

6. A suction sheet feeder as in claim 3 in which the valve operating means includes the connecting lever, and the valve is located adjacent to the connecting lever and operated thereby when the sucker means is nearest to the first feed roll means.

7. A suction sheet feeder as in claim 6 in which the connecting lever has an extension which engages the valve to operate the latter.

8. A suction sheet feeder as in claim 1 including a counter, counter operating means including a finger carried by the sheet transfer means in the path of the sheets, a switch carried by the counter and operated by the counter when the selected number of sheets has passed the finger, and means operated by the counter switch and engaging the sucker frame mounting means to hold the same in a position spaced from the table.

9. A suction sheet feeder as in claim 8 in which the sucker frame mounting means is a first pivoted frame having a first pivot means, a lock out lever secured to the first pivot means, a blocking lever movable to and from a position into blocking contact with the lock out lever, a solenoid connected with and retaining the blocking lever away from blocking contact, a spring propelling the blocking lever to blocking position, and the counter switch energizing the solenoid.

10. A suction sheet feeder as in claim 1 in which the sheet transporting means includes a second feed roll means spaced from the first feed roll means, sheet gaging means located between the feed roll means to gage the sheet passing therebetween, a reject gate located behind the second feed rolls, and gate operating means responsive to the sheet gaging means to project the gate into the path of a sheet.

11. A suction sheet feeder as in claim 1 in which the suction valve means has a vent passage and a valve washer normally closing the same being the sole suction control for the suckers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,911,884 5/1933 Darbaker 27157 X 2,024,583 12/1935 Kurth 27157 3,181,860 5/1965 Liebenow 27132 FOREIGN PATENTS 940,198 10/ 1963 Great Britain.

0 EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 271--11. 32. 57 

